Quick question for all you SKW guys/gals....

I heard from a SKW pilot that there is a minimum number of hours you are required to work per month (to cover cost of benefits). Is that correct? If so, what is this number?


I am asking because I know at XJT there is no such thing. If you are senior enough, you can drop all the trips you want, even your entire month and work ZERO hours per month (obviously you make no money). I know an XJT FO who did that last month since he was getting married abroad and went on a 3 week honeymoon (lucky him!). He did not use any vacation at all, just dropped his entire schedule. He said he COULD do that any time he wants to, since he is senior enough as an FO (of course he doesn't do it often because he can't afford to).

But I heard from him about some senior FOs at XJT who routinely drop 90% of their lines working maybe 5-7 days a month (their wifes are lawyers/doctors...smart guys IMHO).

Just wondering if at SKW it would be possible to do such thing with the current PBS and work rules.

Thanks for your input.

 

Yep it's true, you can only drop to 62.5 credit hours per month. Beyond that you are no longer considered full time and you lose your benefits. It doesn't mean you are actually required "to work" that many hours, you just have to credit it (daily gauruntees, premium pay, etc.). Heck, I've been displaced for IOE for the last 9 weeks, so I haven't worked since September and I get to keep my bennies.

 

What do you mean by that? Are you a new-hire going through IOE?

 

It means that his trips are being used by the training department to do IOE. If you want some extra paid time off a neat trick is to bid the same schedule as the IOE/OE guys and hope that some of your trips get dropped to do training.

 

Got it! Thanks

 

So CAN you drop below 62.5 and simply give up the benefits, or it that simply not an option?

 

Yep, gotta love bidding with the check-airmen. Anytime you can get time off while still getting paid AND accruing vacation/sick time it is well worth it

 

I don't think it's an option. First off the computer will no doubt deny your request to drop that many trips. Also, only flight attendants have a "part-time" status option, so I don't think they allow pilots to do it. Maybe if you didn't take benefits and cleared it with your chief, but I doubt it.

 

Why the Hell whould you want to drop that many trips.. for petes sake you are are pilot if you dont like flying that much then get another job and get out of the industry.. I am tired of people complaining about pay and how messed up this company or that company is why would you work so hard for a job just to try to figure out a way to not be there..

 

You don't lose your benefits if you drop below 62.5 credit hours. You DO have to pay the entire insurance premiums if you drop below 62.5 credit hours.